The Verbal Augmentative and the Inherent Properties of Verbs in Komi
The Verbal Augmentative and the Inherent Properties of Verbs in Komi

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to discuss the functioning of the ­comparison clitic -džyk in forming the verbal augmentative or intensifying grade and its relation to the inherent properties of the event it modifies in literary Komi. The analysis of an assessment questionnaire proved telicity to be the most prominent factor in determining the gradability of an event. Two semantic types of gradation appeared — degree gradation and extent gradation. In the case of degree gradation (’faster’, ’better’, ’stronger’), telicity determines the openness of the event’s scale. In the case of extent gradation (’more’ or temporal duration), atelic events appear with either a cardinality reading or a temporal duration reading, while telic events appear with a cardinality reading only.

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